Emily Jane Knights
Emily's PhD project title is: '"Growing older, growing bolder": examining the material identities of women in Athens from 5th-3rd BC. An intersectional analysis of gender, ageing, and social identities in the extended life course.'
8 May 2026
Project Description
Older women are significantly under-investigated in the archaeological record, particularly in ancient Greece. Gender and gerontological theories frame my investigations into the embodied identities of women, from post-menopause to death, and disembodied identities through the extended life-course concept after death. This diachronic study explores changing views of ageing and gender from late Archaic to early Hellenistic Athens, through analysing the social, functional, and cultural aspects of ageing. Within this, I explore a diverse range of artefacts including painted pottery, sculpture, and anatomical votives, to uncover if and why ancient attitudes toward older women changed over time, and how this can be mapped against the changing political environment.